In 1956, Bishop F. Simons, S.V.D., then Bishop of Indore, bought, in the outskirts of Bhopal, 45 acres of wasteland. He was greatly criticized, even laughed at, for such an 'un-wise acquisition: What could be done with a barren, far away spot ?... no proper road, no proper parish even, one single Priest ministering to a small flock of Catholics lost amidst a Muslim majority !...
A riddle for which there seemed no answer but criticism or just plain general apathy .....and the buzz of comments went running......

The wonderful prophetic vision of Bishop Simon which had e strong enough to withstand and overcome the disintegrating forces of misunderstanding, met, in 1964, the zeal, the enthusiasm, and the incurable optimism of Archbishop Eugene DSouza who was just appointed as Head of the newly created Archdiocese of Bhopal.
In the tremendous task of building up the new archdiocese, His Grace seems to have given priority to the poorest among his flock. His dream was to give a home and care to handicapped children whose life-story is, usually sad, sometimes tragic: There are so many of them in Madhya Pradesh, said the Archbishop, and nothing is done for them.
Thus, ambitious plans were made, and, out of them, the Lord brought His own blessings. At the request of His Grace, Miserior of Germany, immediately offered financial assistance for the construction of a Rehabilitation centre for the Physically Handicapped.

Late 1968 the ground floor building was completed with comfortable, Staff Quarters including, Single Rooms, Dining Room, Kitchen, Storerooms. For inmates there were spacious, well ventilated, bright Dining Hall, Dormitories, Rooms for operation theatre, X Ray, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Sandpit, Administrative Office and consulting Rooms for Doctors. A large suite of rooms was built on the first floor for His Grace and the Administrator. Since His Grace had already received acceptance from Sister Francis James, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery and her Councillors to administer and staff the centre, Sisters Christopher, Rose Mary and Baptista, came to live in the centre with the purpose of cleaning it and making it habitable. Rev. Fr. Gerard Hoffstee SVD was Pastor and solicitous protector for the Sisters. In July 1968 Sisters Christopher and Bernadette were sent to Sewri, Bombay for training as Special Educators of the Mentally Handicapped: Sisters Rose Mary and Clotilde were sent to Lucknow for training as Special Educators of the Hearing impaired. : Sister Aloysius was sent to the United States of America for a three year training course in physiotherapy.
On January 5, 1969 the Archbishops Dream was concretised by the formal opening of ASHA NIKETAN REHABILITATION CENTRE by His Excellency, The Governor of Madhya Pradesh and blessed by His Excellency, the Apostolic Nuncio in the presence of many distinguished guests.

His Grace Cecil De Sa, Archbishop of Agra who was then the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Bhopal took over as Administrator of the rehabilitation centre. Rev. Mother Clotilde, Provincial of the Sisters of the Cross of Amravati, graciously sent four Sisters to administer the Institution, Sr. Loretta, Superior, Sr. Georgina, Nurse, Sister Marilla and Sister Alfreda, Teachers. At this time Jacob Pete Masih, a boy with cerebral palsy and mental retardation, from the Foundling home run by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart in Jhansi, was brought to the centre by Rev. Father Rainerius OFM CAP., and was admitted as the very first patient. On the completion of their training as Special Educators of the Mentally Handicapped and Hearing Impaired the four CSSJ Sisters joined the staff ad they worked along with the Sisters of the Cross in an excellent, warm, affectionate relationship which still endures. The Sisters of the Cross gracefully withdrew after one year, leaving the Sisters of St. Joseph. At the request of Sister Francis James, Sister Marcella, a highly qualified professional Physiotherapist from a large hospital of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery in the United States, joined the staff. Sister Annie Paul and Sister Josepha joined the staff as nurses. Fr. Cecil handed over the administration to Sr. Marcella in 1971. On the recommendation of His Grace, Archbishop Eugene DSouza, Miserior of Germany, accepted a project of Sr. Marcella, for the building of the First Floor, consisting of additional Staff Quarters, class rooms and Hostel facilities for the Mentally Handicapped, and Hearing Impaired girls and boys, a large multipurpose hall and operation theatre with antirooms for doctors, for scrubbing and for sterilisation. Rev. Fr. Marcelline, with technical assistance from Dr. Krishnamurty, Structural Engineer and Lecturer in M.A.C.T. College undertook the building contract. Father had a Food for work programme so with the cash in hand he was able to build up the Agro Industrial Training Centre. All of the grills etc. were proudly made by his young boys in training. Sister Marcell returned to America and Sister Anne Mary Kelly who had resigned as matron of the Medical College of Gwalior, joined the staff as administrator. Sister Aloysius who had completed her training took over as physiotherapist.
The original vision of His Grace, Archbishop Eugene was the Rehabilitation of persons with Physical handicap with facilities for orthopedic surgery. In this His Grace received the generous support of Dr. Bisaria and Dr. Maheshwari.

Misereor, the funding agency for Asha Niketan Rehabilitation Centre had never quite accepted that the Mentally Handicapped should be housed in Asha Niketan. We were given a five year period to make alternate school and hostel arrangements. His Grace, Archbishop Eugene, president of the Society put the case before the Managing Committee.